Things to do in Luoyang

Ms. Zhao Jing from Elephant Travel Agency gave a wonderful presentation. The Longmen Grottoes, situated on both banks of the Yi River in Luoyang, are a World Heritage Site. From the Northern Wei to the Sui and Tang dynasties, artisans spent centuries carving thousands of statues into the cliff face. The Vairocana Buddha, dignified and graceful, perfectly embodies the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty. The Yi River flows gently, the Buddha niches stand serenely, and the stone carvings are delicate and vivid. They represent the pinnacle of ancient stone carving art and are a thousand-year-old history book etched on the cliff face. A stroll through them is truly awe-inspiring.

When the fog dissipates, you can see the shape of the mountain; when the fog is thick, you can feel the soul of the mountain. The most moving thing about Laojun Mountain is never the exposed peaks, but the myriad imaginations hidden in the clouds.

There was a slight unpleasantness with the merchant's customer service when making the reservation, as I had booked a guided tour of the Longmen Grottoes, but the merchant's page description was incorrect and I requested a refund, which they refused. I only got a refund after contacting the platform's customer service. Because of this unpleasant experience, I didn't have high expectations for the tour. However, once inside the museum, Mr. Pei's explanation was truly dedicated, and he was a very kind person; it was clear he genuinely loved the experience. Special praise! 👍 He made up for the merchant's shortcomings! 👍

Yingtian Gate is magnificent at night. You can take an elevator to the 6th floor, where the view of Heaven and the Hall of Heaven is spectacular. However, there are too many people taking photos below, and the lighting is all white. There isn't much inside; if you just want to see the view, you don't need to go in.

A magnificent temple complex!It’s so beautiful that I enjoyed visiting even in the rain. You can find Buddhist temples inspired by different countries, including China, Thailand, India and Myanmar.It is known as the first Buddhist temple in China and is a place of great spiritual significance.Beyond its religious importance, it’s also a wonderful place to stroll around and take photos.The Thai section is absolutely incredible! For a moment, you almost feel as if you’re in Bangkok.Highly recommended if you’re visiting Luoyang!

The ruins of Luoyang City during the Sui and Tang Dynasties are located in the suburbs of Luoyang City. Construction began during the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, and its layout was modeled after the Sui Dynasty's Daxing City. At that time, it was known as the Eastern Capital or Tokyo. It served through the Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, and Northern Song Dynasties, lasting for over 500 years, acting as the Eastern Capital of the Sui and Tang Dynasties and the Western Capital of the Northern Song Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, the palace city, imperial city, and outer city were built successively. Five wards were established south of the outer city, and three more were opened to the northeast. In the second year of the Qianfeng era of Emperor Gaozong of Tang (667 AD), the Yang Palace was built southwest of the imperial city.

From Yuntaishan, we boarded a bus bound for Luoyang. The journey was long — more than four hours on the road. We left at 2:30 pm and only arrived close to 7:00 pm, which meant our first day in Luoyang was largely consumed by travel. That evening, drained from the ride, I managed only a brief visit to Yingtianmen, illuminated against the night sky.The following day was devoted entirely to two of Luoyang’s most iconic sites: the Longmen Grottoes and the White Horse Temple. After exploring the temple, we caught bus no. 58 directly to Luoyi Ancient City. By then, the hours of walking through grottoes and temple grounds had left us physically exhausted. Still, the ancient city welcomed us with free admission and a promise of cultural immersion.Dinner was taken at a basement food court along Minzhu Street. By the time we finished, night had fallen, and Luoyi Ancient City had transformed. The streets glittered with lanterns, music pulsed through the air, and the atmosphere was electric. Crowds gathered near the lake to watch 天女散花 — the “Fairy Scattering Flowers” dance performance — though we chose not to linger.Luoyi Ancient City (洛邑古城) remains one of China’s most authentic living historic districts. Here, 3,000 years of dynastic history — from the Zhou to the Ming — can still be felt in its preserved city walls, pagodas, canals, and performances. It is not simply a relic of the past, but a vibrant cultural stage where history and daily life coexist.

Teacher Meng's explanations were exceptionally good, making the visit very rewarding. However, the children in the group were extremely noisy, rolling around on the ground, and despite Teacher Meng's repeated reminders, it was no use. The parents also ignored it, which was quite frustrating. Kudos to Teacher Meng again; she is incredibly dedicated!

The night view is beautiful. There were performances during the National Day holiday, and the overall experience was quite engaging. However, it's a modern imitation of ancient architecture, lacking a sense of history. There were also too many commercial photo shoots, all depicting Wu Zetian's coronation. Traffic outside was heavy, with many people, electric bikes, and tricycles, making it rather chaotic. I wouldn't recommend driving; taking the subway is safer.

Luoyang peonies are the best in the world, and April is the best season to see them. The garden is full of peonies of all colors blooming in competition, elegant and luxurious. I was fortunate enough to see the rare varieties, the black peony and the green peony, making the trip worthwhile!